Pembroke Pines's Building Safety: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles building safety a little differently. In Pembroke Pines, Florida, there are 4 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Childcare Center Rules

Every child care facility in Pembroke Pines must keep its doors locked during operating hours and whenever children under 18 are present, install a panic alarm button, and add a door access control system on every primary entry. Section 124.03 layers these city-specific security mandates on top of state Department of Children and Families rules.

Key details: Governing section: § 124.03. Adopted: Ord. 1899, passed 3-7-18. Required equipment: Panic button + door access control system. Permit fee waiver window: 180 days from effective date. Testing frequency: Annual, with fire alarm test.

Chapter 124 sets no fine schedule of its own, so a facility that skips the required door locks, panic button, door access control system, or annual testing verified by the Fire Prevention Bureau is enforced under the citywide § 10.99 general penalty: a fine of up to $500, imprisonment of up to 90 days, or both, with each day the violation continues charged as a separate offense.

Green Building Code

Pembroke Pines requires a green building narrative with every site plan application under Code of Ordinances § 155.6122, drawing from the sustainability options table at § 155.6123. The program covers new and redevelopment projects and city-owned buildings, and recognizes third-party certification through USGBC, FGBC or NGBS for applicants who choose to pursue it.

Key details: Applies to: New/redevelopment site plan applications. Submittal: Green building narrative required at site plan. Reviewing dept: Planning and Economic Development Department. Certification options: USGBC, FGBC, or NGBS accepted. City buildings: Expected to comply unless cost outweighs benefit.

The ordinance does not attach a separate fine to skipping a sustainability element; instead, the narrative and, where applicable, certification paperwork required by § 155.6122 are submittal requirements for site plan review, so an application to the Planning and Economic Development Department that omits the required green building narrative is incomplete for site plan approval purposes.

Building Permits

Pembroke Pines requires a permit and paid fee from the Building Department before any work covered by the Building Code begins. Under § 150.16(A), starting work before the permit issues doubles the permit fee, and the city adopts the full Florida Building Code by reference under § 150.11 so its permitting and inspection rules govern citywide.

Key details: Permit issuer: Building and Zoning Department. Unpermitted work penalty: Double permit fee, § 150.16(A). Adopted code: Florida Building Code, § 150.11. Construction bond: $250 cash bond, § 150.18. General penalty: $500 fine or 90 days jail.

Starting covered work before a permit is issued triggers a double permit fee under § 150.16(A), and the city won't issue any further permits to that person until the double fee is paid. Beyond the fee, § 150.24 makes any Building Code violation punishable under the general penalty in § 10.99, up to a $500 fine, 90 days in jail, or both, with each day the violation continues charged separately.

Building Inspections

For threshold buildings, Pembroke Pines requires the owner to hire an independent design professional under § 150.21 to perform special inspections throughout construction and certify compliance before a certificate of occupancy issues. The design professional must carry at least $1,000,000 in professional liability insurance and keep detailed inspection records available to the city.

Key details: Applies to: Threshold buildings, per F.S. § 553.79. Required inspector: Registered engineer or architect. Insurance minimum: $1,000,000 professional liability. Non-compliance consequence: Permit denial or stop-work order. General penalty: $500 fine or 90 days jail.

Skipping the required threshold-building inspection process lets the Chief Building Official deny or hold up building permits, issue stop-work orders on any phase of construction, or refuse to issue the certificate of occupancy entirely. Beyond those administrative consequences, § 150.21 is enforced as a Building Code violation under the general penalty in § 10.99, punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both.

The Bottom Line

Pembroke Pines's building safety rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Pembroke Pines is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Pembroke Pines's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.